My Surprise Mate

Dane moved Kyra’s bassinet from the living room into our bedroom.

As I got Kyra situated in our room, Dane went outside to talk to the guys and fill them in.

He wasn’t gone long and told me our house would be guarded from now until Devin is found.I had this gut feeling there was more going on than we realized.I couldn’t sleep at all, and Dane slept off and on.I lay there watching Kyra most of the night and every little noise I heard had me sitting up in bed.

Kyra woke up around five that morning and I decided to stay up for the day.

After getting us both dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Kyra seemed to be her normal happy self just like any other morning, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

Unsure if all three guys had stayed outside all night or not, I opened the front door and stepped out to find Zayd standing near the steps, "Good morning," I told him.

He smiled at me as he walked up the steps, "Morning dear.You should still be asleep."

He pulled me in for a hug.

Zayd and Adria acted like parents I never had, and they always seemed to help ease my worries.

"I couldn’t sleep and, besides, Kyra woke up hungry this morning."

he smiled and nodded his head, "well she is a growing girl, and we tend to eat more than normal humans."

"l was going to offer some breakfast and coffee but wasn’t sure or Colby.

"I'll take some coffee," Zayd replied.

"Me too!" I turned to find Ash walking toward the porch.

Neither of them looked as tired as I felt this morning.I led them into the kitchen and started pouring them each a cup while they sat down at the table.

"Good morning little princess," Zayd cooed to Kyra.She smiled brightly at him as he picked her up.

"Did y’all stay outside the whole night?" I questioned them.

"Yes and no,"

Ash started, "Four people were guarding all night, but we did rotate out with three of our best warriors to be able to squeeze in a little sleep."

I nodded in understanding as I handed them their mugs.

"Don’t forget Adria was here periodically through the night too."

"I had no idea she was out here too."

I watched as Zayd and Ash exchanged a knowing look, "What you have never seen is pissed off Adria when her family is being threatened.She wasn’t necessarily coming out to help guard but more to make sure we were doing it the ‘right’ way."

Both guys began to laugh, "she had us stationed around the house so there wasn’t a single side left unprotected, and every 15 minutes we had to switch spots to keep us alert."

Zayd was shaking his head as he spoke.

Dane walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Did we wake you?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine.

He was watching Zayd playing with Kyra.

"No, you didn’t wake me.It’s just time to get up."

The front door opened as Adria came rushing in, have no idea how much trouble you two were fixing to be in." she pointed her finger at Ash and Zayd.

"Holly invited us in for coffee,"

Zayd started telling her as he walked toward her with Kyra, "you know I would never leave this angel unprotected."

Adria sighed, "I know honey, I just...I won’t let them get to her."

Zayd handed Kyra to her, "None of us will,"

Ash finally spoke.

I looked at Dane when there was a light knock at the door, "It’s Genesis and Blaze,"

Ash said as he went to open the door.

"Good morning,"

Genesis greeted as she followed Blaze into the house.

Blaze went straight to Adria and began talking to Kyra.

After setting Kyra on her playmat, Adria came and sat down at the table with us, "Should we have our meeting now or later in the office?"

She cut straight to the point.

"We just need Colby here and we can do it now.No reason to wait." I answered.

"He’s on his way,"

Dane reached over, slipping his hand into mine.

arrived within minutes and took a seat at the table with

about my ‘dream’ and received many gasps

looks the whole time I was talking, making me feel as

asked, looking back

things that just haven’t been

squeezed my

eyebrows as I stared at

didn’t elaborate friendly, maybe a little too friendly, and when he told us about the prophecy, he said he couldn’t remember

were able to not only bring him down but wound

their thoughts, "Apollo has never been one to tolerate disrespect from anyone.He’s a very strict ruler.His command alone can even bring an Alpha to his knees, yet he

I

all honesty, Apollo could have taken them both down without hurting them.His command may not work on Devin, just as it didn’t seem to affect you,

our conversations since then, trying to think of anything that seemed odd, but other

is

at Zayd this time who had

than any of us realized.I know this isn’t something you want to hear, but we don’t think

Zayd told me gently.

of being betrayed by my father, the father lam just starting to get

could

you can about this prophecy.Ash and Colby, I need training kicked back up and regular sweeps up to two miles outside the border done at least three

a resounding, "Yes Alpha"

your dad calls, you need to act normal.Don’t let on

to me.I was

replied, not really

calls to make.Do you want to stay home today, or do you want to go

to the packhouse." I smiled

go together.I don’t want you out walking around by

at him

next move would be? We walked together to the packhouse, stopping a few times to speak with

door to his where

of them that looked to

"Any luck?"

seat.I’m pretty sure Kyra has toys, playpens, and play mats in

shaking their heads, "Not yet, but

Adria replied.

be read often.I carefully flipped through the pages as I scanned for anything about the Moon Goddess

Moon Goddess has appeared in dreams before.But

stated as she rose from her

to go get Blaze and I will be back

to fuss just as Dane walked through the door, "Any luck?" he asked as he picked her

and stood stretching her limbs out,

he would meet us

clock hanging on the wall above the door, surprised to see it was already time for

explain Kyra’s

about to miss

downstairs together, meeting up with everyone as we entered the dining

had sat Kyra in her highchair between her and

still happening, I couldn’t help but realize that even though Apollo

on Kyra and how she has been

it was

how things were going there, Apollo would always quickly change the subject back to

I murmured lost in my

think we should talk privately

one of worry, but he didn’t push

mean, I know that Dane doesn’t really trust him, but could Apollo be the mastermind behind this? I didn’t know Devin well enough to say if he had the brains to come up with this by himself, but

my stomach felt like it was twisted into a thousand knots.I didn’t want to believe that

house so they could take a nap while the

of this," I stated not waiting

up in surprise

thinking.Apollo was a little too friendly when he was here.He hasn’t been able to come back to visit in person since, but I have regular phone calls with him.Every phone call is about me and Kyra, mainly Kyra though.Anytime I ask about Devin, or how things are going there, or the prophecy, he is quick to change the subject or gives me very vague answers in return.Then there is the whole "attack".. that really doesn’t make any sense now to be able to do this on his own, but Apollo is.What if Devin is nothing more than a foot soldier, so to speak? I know

was engulfed in silence once I finished spilling

stopped pacing the office

you.I do think Apollo is playing a part, but whether he is the brains or not I can’t say.I think that Devin is cleverer than you

my head as I thought about it,

the phone call

I looked at Zayd.

before lunch,

say he was planning to come

"Why not talk

smiled at me, "Vampires are very private, secretive

me as he led me to sit down, "And your pacing is about to drive me crazy,

a sigh, wishing none of

looked at Zayd,

everything that was going on.He’s one of the very few people I fully trust to discuss this with.He asked about the bordering land.He wants to move his pack

but then again, there aren't too many things he wouldn’t do for

needed to move his

to do that?"

family and, as far as the Royal Pack goes, his loyalty is with you.He’s never been a

his loyalty wasn’t with

me, but he has been willing to stand beside

Adria call him

his chair, "remind Ash and Colby that Dominick

in the office, the silence once